Narrow stile lock and actuator



Feb. 11, 1964 s. R. RECHBERG 3,120,748

' NARROW STILE LOCK AND ACTUATOR Filed Oct. 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l57y E. leecr g,

1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 11, 1964 s. R. RECHBERG NARROW STILE LOCK AND ACTUATOR 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001- ll. 1960 51:7 1? Rec/r6617,

INVENTOR. WHANN 8- file/144M644 United States Patent Ofiice 3,129,748Patented Feb. 11, 1964 3,129,748 NARRUW STHLE LUCK AND ACTUATQR Sig R.Rechberg, 'lujunga, Califl, assignor to Adams Rite ManufacturingCompany, Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California Filed (lot. 11,19669, Ser. No. 62,026 9 illairns. (til. 70-41%) The present inventionrelates generally to lock and latching mechanisms such as utilized insliding doors, and the like; and is more particularly concerned with animproved actuator for a narrow stile door, wherein the actuatormechanism is supported on and forms a part of an escutcheon plateassembly.

eretofore, a problem has been presented in providing actuating means fornarrow stile lock installations, due to the limited and restrictedmounting space available for the actuating mechanism. This problembecomes even more acute in the case of doors which must slide past eachother.

In an endeavor to meet the existing problem, attempts have been made tomount digitally movable members and key cylinder actuators on escutcheonplates of one type or another. In the main, these attempts have resultedin structures which have been crude in appearance, and generallymechanically unsatisfactory in operation.

Having in mind the problem and the early attempts to provide asatisfactory actuator for narrow stile doors, the present invention hasfor one object the provision of a unique arrangement for an actuator inwhich an escutcheon plate of pleasing appearance mounts an actuator fora locking element, which may be utilized singly or in combination with acompanion escutcheon plate mounted on an opposite side of a door framestile and containing a key cylinder operator for the locking element.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved selectivelock control from opposite sides of a sliding door stile, whereindigitally operable members are associated with flush type escutcheonplates of pleasing appearance in such a manner as to not interfere withthe movement of the doors past each other.

Still another object is to provide in connection with the lock actuatingmechanism, unique means for mounting companion escutcheon plates inback-to-back relation, and securing them against separation anddetachment, the securing means being adjustable to permit the escutcheonplates to be mounted on stiles of variable thickness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the followingpart of the specification, wherein detailed description is for thepurposes of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitationsthereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrativepurposes only:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one of the escutcheonplate lock actuators of the present invention and its relationship withthe lock mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a similar View of a companion escutcheon plate actuatormechanism as mounted on the opposite side of the door stile;

RIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of an edge face of the doorstile, portions be ng cut away to disclose details of the actuator partsand the cooperative relationship of the companion escutcheon platesmounted on the opposite sides of the door stile;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing theinterconnection of the respective escutcheon plate actuator means with acommon actuating strap by means of which a locking element of the lockis moved to locked and unlocked positions, taken substantially on line44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the common strap member fortransmitting movement of the respective escutcheon plate actuators tothe locking element of the lock mechanism.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the escutcheon plateactuators of the present invention are shown in FIG. 1 as being appliedto a narrow stile door frame 19 of a sliding door, the frame beingextruded or otherwise formed of aluminum or other suitable metal oftubular construction, so as to have spaced side walls 11 and 12interconnected by a common edge wall 13.

Mounted within the door frame lti is a locking mechanism unit 14 whichmay constitute any one of a number of commercial available units, andmay embody a locking unit such as disclosed in Charles L. Eads UnitedStates Leters Patent No. 2,789,852, issued April 23, 1957. Briefly, theunit in the present instance is disclosed as being contained within aseparate casing .15 adapted to be mounted within an opening 16 formed inthe edge wall 13 of the door frame. The casing 15 containing the partsof the lock mechanism has an edge opening 17 through which a lockingmember or element 13 is movable to an extended locking position as shownin PEG. 1, and a retracted unlocked position within the casing 15, asshown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. Movement of the locking member iseffected by means of a rotatable actuating member 19 which extendsthrough a side opening of the casing 15 of the lockin unit, and alsocontains a longitudinally extending rectangular bore 243.

From a consideration of FIG. 3, it will be apparent that with a lockingmechanism unit such as illustrated therein, it would not be possible tomount a key actuated cylinder or other actuator means in s-ide-by-siderelation to the locking unit and still have a door frame withsubstantially flush sides, due to the restricted space in the door framebetween the side walls ll. and 12 and the locking mechanism unit casing15.

The present invention in its broad concept proposes to provide a pair ofcooperatively associated companion escutcheon plate structures 21 and 22of the substantially flush type, and which are vertically spaced withrespect to the locking mechanism unit and secured to the opposite sidewalls of the door frame '10.

Basically, the escutcheon plate structures 21 and 22 are similarlyconstructed to provide an outer elongate plate portion 23 which presentsin mounted position an outer surface 24 adapted to be substantiallyflush with the outer surface of the adjacent side wall of the door frameupon which it is mounted. Extending from one end of each plate portion,the escutcheon plate structure has its surface depressed to provide anaxially extending recessed portion 25 having a length which is shown ascomprising substantially one-half of the plate portion 23. This recessed portion 25 has a stepped bottom wall composed of a section 26aand section 26b which coact to divide the recess 25 into relatively deepand shallow recessed portions. At the respective ends of the recessedportion 25, each escutcheon plate structure is provided with bosses 27and 23 which are adapted to be in alignment when the escutcheon platestructures are mounted on the opposite walls 11 and 22; of the doorframe in suitable openings therein. These bosses are drilled andthreaded to receive connecting screws 29 and 3i? which serve to clampthe escutcheon plate structures into mounted position with theperipheral margins of their plate portions 23 in engagement with theirassociated side walls. It will be appreciated that with thisarrangement, the escutcheon plate structure are readily mountable upondoor frames of variable thickness.

It is only necessary to anchor one of the escutcheon plate structuresagainst axial movement, since the other escutcheon plate structure willbe retained against axial movement by virtue of the connecting screws 29and 3!). Various means may be used for anchoring one of the escutcheonplate structures against axial movement, and as best shown in FIG. 3,the plate portion 23 of the structure 22 is provided with a lip or hook31 at one end for engaging the adjacent edge of the opening in whichthis escutcheon plate structure is mounted. The opposite end of thisstructure has its boss 27 arranged to engage the ad jacent edge of theopening at this end. The lug 27 and lip 31 therefore retain theescutcheon plate structure against axial shifting movement.

The lock actuating mechanism associated with the escutcheon platestructure 21 will now be described. On the inside of the plate portion23, there is provided an elongate strap member 32 constructed as shownin FIG. with an interend portion 33 which is adapted to lie in faceengagement with the inner face of the upper end of the plate portion 23,as viewed in FIG. 3. The strap member is offset at its respective endsto form end portions 34 and 35, respectively. An axially extending slot36 in the interend portion 33 extends into the end portion 34 and isadapted to receive therein or straddle the boss 23 of the escutcheonplate structure with which it is associated. The slot permitsreciprocable movement of the strap member, and for effecting thisreciprocable movement the end portion 34 is secured by a suitableconnection 37 to a digitally operable member 38 which is shown as beingpositioned within the shallow portion of the recess on the opposite sideof the bottom from the end portion 34 of the strap member. The member 38is mounted for reciprocable movement, which is thus imparted through theconnection 37 to the strap member. While a reciprocably movabledigitally operable member 38 is disclosed, it is within the concept ofthe present invention that other means such as a rotatable knob andcrank or other connection with the strap member may be utilized toimpart reciprocable movement thereto. The

ember 38 is so formed that it does not project beyond the outer surface24 of the associated escutcheon plate structure, thus maintaining thedesired fiush construction.

The end portion is constructed with a transverse slot 39 which isarranged to slidably receive therein a T-shaped end portion 40 formed atthe outermost end of a crank arm 41 which is integrally formed with andextends radially from a right angled arm 42 which is arranged toslidably fit into the bore 29 of the actuating member 19 of the lockingmechanism unit 14. With this arrangement, as indicated primarily in FIG.4, it will be observed that reciprocable movement of the strap member 32will operate to rotate the actuating member 19 in opposite directionsand thus motivate the locking member 18 to its locked and unlockedpositions. Moreover, by providing a slipjoint connection between the arm42 of the crank and the actuating member 19, the structure provides aflexibility which enables the spacing between the escutcheon platestructures to be readily varied to meet installation conditions, withouthaving to change the actuating mechanism.

The escutcheon plate structure 21 with the actuating mechanism carriedthereby may be utilized as a single operating means for the lockingmechanism unit, if desired. However, in many installations, it may bedesirable to provide another actuating point on the opposite side wallof the door frame, and for this purpose the companion escutcheon platestructure 22 is arranged to mount and accommodate a key controlledactuating means which will also act through the strap member 32 to movethe locking member 18 to its locked and unlocked positions. Thisstructure will now be described.

In this case, the escutcheon plate structure 22 is provided adjacent itsboss 28 with inwardly projecting integrally formed body portion 43within which a key cylinder, as indicated by the numeral 44, is mountedfor rotation, one end thereof being adapted to receive a suitable key 45and the other end operatively supporting a cam plate 46.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cam plate 46 is positioned alongside theinterend portion 33 of the strap member and has diametrically projectinglobes 47 having a path of movement such that these lobes selectivelyengage against a projecting pin 4-8 carried by the plate member and positioned in the path of movement of the cam lobes. The key cylinder maytherefore be selectively operated to actuate the locking member 18 tolocked and unlocked positions from one side of the door frame, while thedigitally operable member 38 may be used to operate the lock member fromthe opposite side of the door frame.

While the escutcheon plate structures are illustrated as being installedadjacent the edge wall 13 of the frame structure, it may be desirable insome installations to vary the mounted positions of the escutcheon platestructures so that they will be spaced away from the wall 13. Thestructure of the present invention readily permits variations in theback-set of the escutcheon plate structures since these variationsmerely change the relative position of the T-shaped end portion 40within the slot 39 of the strap member.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention and, hence, I do notwish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned,except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Manually operable actuating means for the locking element of a narrowstile door lock, said means being positioned proximate to said lock, andbeing accessible for operation from one side of said door, said meanscomprising: a digitally movable member vertically spaced from said lock;means mounting said member on one side of said stile for reciprocablelinear movements in opposite directions, including a fixed escutcheonplate having a recess in its main surface within which said member issubstantially flush mounted with respect to said surface; an elongatestrap mounted inwardly of said escutcheon plate within said stile forreciprocable longitudinal axial movements, said strap being connectedwith said member for movement thereby and having a transverse slot; andmeans for operating said locking element to locked and unlockedpositions including a crank adapted for operative connection with saidlocking element having an outer end positioned in said slot, wherebyreciprocable movements of said strap are converted into a rotaryactuating movement.

2. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted betweenside faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lockincluding a rotatable operating member connecting with the lockingelement, said mechanism comprising: an elongate escutcheon plate fixedlymounted on one side face of said stile in vertically spaced relation tosaid lock, said plate having an outer surface substantially flush withthe adjacent stile face, and containing an elongate recess having astepped bottom separating said recess into a shallow portion and a relatively deeper portion providing a finger abutment for use in opening andclosing the door; a digitally movable member slidably supported in saidshallow portion of a thickness such that it does not project beyond theplane of said outer surface of said plate; an elongate strap memberwithin said stile supported for lengthwise axial movement, one end ofsaid strap being afiixed to said digitally movable member for movementtherewith; and means operatively connected to said strap and adapted forconnection with the rotatable operating member for convertingreciprocable movements of said strap into rotary movement of saidoperating member.

3. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted betweenside faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lockincluding a rotatable operating member connecting with the lockingelement, said mechanism comprising: an elongate escutcheon plate fixedlymounted on one side face of said stile in vertically spaced relation tosaid lock, said plate having an outer surface substantially flush withthe adjacent stile face, and containing a portion depressed below itsouter surface; a digitally movable member slidably supported in saiddepressed portion of a thickness such that it does not project beyondthe plane of said outer surface of said plate; an elongate strap memberwithin said stile supported for lengthwise axial movement, one end ofsaid strap being aifixed to said digitally movable member for movementtherewith; means for connecting the other end of said strap with therotatable operating member of said lock for converting reciprocablemovements of said strap into rotary movement of said operating member;and key controlled means accessible from the other side face of saidstile including a rotatable cam member adapted upon rotation to engage aportion of said plate so as to impart reciprocable movements thereto.

4. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted betweenopposed side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door,said lock including a rotatable Operating member connecting with thelocking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of escutcheon platesfixedly mounted on said side faces in openings therein so as to be inback-tobaok relation and with their outer surfaces respectivelysubstantially flush with the adjacent side face of the stile member, oneof said plates having an end portion adapted for hooked engagement witha portion of the associated stile side; securing means engageablebetween said plates for releasably retaining them against separation anddetachment from said stile; an elongate strap member within said stilesupported between said escutcheon plates for reciprocable slidingmovement longitudinally of said stile; a motion transmitting connectionbetween said strap and said rotatable operating member for rotating thelatter in response to a reciprocable movement of said strap member; andmeans for reciprocating said strap including substantially surface flushmovable elements respectively carried by said esoutcheon plates, saidelements being selectively operable for controlled actuation of saidlocking element from the opposite side faces of said stile.

5. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted betweenopposite side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door,said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with thelocking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of esutcheon platesfixedly mounted on said side faces in openings therein so as to be inback-to-back relation and with their outer surfaces respectivelysubstantially flush with the adjacent surface of the stile member;securing means engageable between said plates for releasably retainingthem against separation and detachment from said stile; an elongatestrap member within said stile supported between said escutcheon platesfor reciprocable sliding movement longitudinally of said stile relativeto said plates; a motion transmitting connection between said strap andsaid rotatable operating member for rotating the latter in response toreciprocable movements of said strap member; and means for reciprocatingsaid strap including substantially surface flush movable elementsrespectively carried by said escutcheon plates, said elements beingrespectively operable for controlled actuation of said locking elementfrom the opposite side faces of said stile.

6. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted betweenopposed side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door,said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with thelocking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of escutcheon plates[fixedly mounted on said side faces in openings therein so as to be inback-to-back relation and with their outer surfaces respectivelysubstantially flush with the adjacent side faces of the stile member,one of said plates having a depressed surface portion; securing meansengageable between said plates for releasably retaining them againstseparation and detachment from said stile; an elongate strap memberwithin said stile supported between said escutcheon'plates forreciprocable sliding movement longitudinally of said stile; a motiontransmitting connection between said strap and said rotatable operatingmember for rotating the latter in response to reciprocable movements ofsaid strap member; and means substantially flush with said opposite sidefaces for selectively reciprocating said plate from said opposite sidefaces including a digitally movable member in said depressed surfaceportion, and a key controlled member mounted on the other of saidplates.

7. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted betweenopposite side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door,said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with thelocking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of substantiallyflush fixedly mounted escutcheon plates in openings in said side facesso as to be in back-to-back relation, one of said plates having adepressed surface portion; clamping means extending between said platesfor retaining them in said openings against separation and detachmentfrom said stile; a strap member slidably mounted on said one of saidplates for lengthwise reciprocable movements; a digitally movable memberpositioned in said depressed portion in substantially flush relationwith said one of said plates operable to reciprocate said strap mem ber;key controlled cam means substantially flush mounted on the other ofsaid plates with said cam positioned adjacent said strap member; aprojection carried by said strap member engageable by said cam toreciprocably move said strap; and an operative connection between saidrotatable operating member and said strap for actuating said lockingelement in response to reciprocable movements of said strap member.

8. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted betweenopposed side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door,said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with thelocking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of substantiallyflush fixedly mounted escutcheon plates in openings in said side facesso as to be in back-to-back relation, one of said plates having adepressed surface portion; clamping means extending between said platesfor retaining them in said openings against separation and detachmentfrom said stile; a strap member slidably mounted on said one of saidplates for lengthwise reciprocable movements relative thereto; asubstantially flush mounted digitally movable member positioned in saiddepressed portion operable to reciprocate said strap member; keycontrolled cam means mounted on the other of said plates with said campositioned adjacent said strap member; a pin carried by said strapprojecting into the path of movement of said cam so as to reciprocatesaid strap in response to reverse directions of movement of said cam;and an operative connection between said rotatable operating member andsaid strap for actuating said locking element in response toreciprocable movements of said strap member.

9. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted betweenopposed side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door,said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with saidlooking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of substantiallyflush fixedly mounted escutcheon plates in openings in said side facesso as to be in back-to-back relation, one of said plates having adepressed surface portion; means for retaining said plates in saidopenings against separation and detachment from said stile; a strapmember slidably mounted on said one of said plates for lengthwisereciprocable movements; a substantially flush mounted digitally movablemember positioned in said depressed portion operable to reciprocate saidstrap member; key controlled cam means mounted on the other of saidplates with said cam positioned adjacent said strap member; a pincarried by said strap projecting in the path of movement of said cam soas to reciprocate said strap in response to reverse directions ofmovement of said cam; and a crank having a slide connection with saidrotatable operating member for adjusting the plane of rotation of thecrank between said escutcheon plates, said crank having an outer endmovable in a transversely extending slot in said strap member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,199,467 Saunders May 7, 1940 8 Eads Apr. 23, 1957 Rainman Jan. 28,1958 Chittum et a1. July 22, 1958 Schaefer Nov. 10, 1959 Russell Feb. 9,1960 Sitler July 26, 1960 Miller June 27, 1961

1. MANUALLY OPERABLE ACTUATING MEANS FOR THE LOCKING ELEMENT OF A NARROWSTILE DOOR LOCK, SAID MEANS BEING POSITIONED PROXIMATE TO SAID LOCK, ANDBEING ACCESSIBLE FOR OPERATION FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID DOOR, SAID MEANSCOMPRISING: A DIGITALLY MOVABLE MEMBER VERTICALLY SPACED FROM SAID LOCK;MEANS MOUNTING SAID MEMBER ON ONE SIDE OF SAID STILE FOR RECIPROCABLELINEAR MOVEMENTS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, INCLUDING A FIXED ESCUTCHEONPLATE HAVING A RECESS IN ITS MAIN SURFACE WITHIN WHICH SAID MEMBER ISSUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SURFACE; AN ELONGATESTRAP MOUNTED INWARDLY OF SAID ESCUTCHEON PLATE WITHIN SAID STILE FORRECIPROCABLE LONGITUDINAL AXIAL MOVEMENTS, SAID STRAP BEING CONNECTEDWITH SAID MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT THEREBY AND HAVING A TRANSVERSE SLOT; ANDMEANS FOR OPERATING SAID LOCKING ELEMENT TO LOCKED AND UNLOCKEDPOSITIONS INCLUDING A CRANK ADAPTED FOR OPERATIVE CONNECTION WITH SAIDLOCKING ELEMENT HAVING AN OUTER END POSITIONED IN SAID SLOT, WHEREBYRECIPROCABLE MOVEMENTS OF SAID STRAP ARE CONVERTED INTO A ROTARYACTUATING MOVEMENT.